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Western Illinois University Athletics

Dalan Ancrum
68
Western Illinois WIU 11-12 (2-8)
71
Winner Omaha OMAHA 8-17 (3-6)
Western Illinois WIU
11-12 (2-8)
68
Final
71
Omaha OMAHA
8-17 (3-6)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Western Illinois WIU 34 34 68
Omaha OMAHA 30 41 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | WIU Athletic Communications

Leathernecks Nipped By Omaha

Western Illinois leads for more than 22 minutes before falling by three

OMAHA - The Western Illinois Leathernecks fell Thursday (Feb. 8) inside of Baxter Arena, 71-68, to the Omaha Mavericks. WIU held a lead for over 22 minutes of the contest, but came up short and stalled to 11-12 and 2-8 in league play.
 
"It was a close game. It was a back-and-forth game for the second half, even though we had the lead for a couple of possessions," said head coach Billy Wright. "I thought that they attacked the rim and we put them on the free throw line. And they stepped up and made the plays down the stretch, give them credit."

The Leathernecks forced five Maverick turnovers over the first ten minutes of play. The ball started to fall for Western Illinois, as Dalan Ancrum and Kobe Webster knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Leathernecks up by seven, 18-11, with 9:48 remaining in the first half.
 
Starting at the 4:47 mark in the first half. The Leathernecks went on a 10-0 started by an Isaac Johnson 3-pointer. Brandon Gilbeck also found the bottom of the net during the span, along with Webster.
 
Gilbeck recorded three first-half blocks to anchor the Leatherneck defense over the first 20 minutes. Webster added 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in the first half.
 
Webster and Ancrum connected again on back-to-back 3-pointers to begin the second half, putting the Purple and Gold up 43-37 with 16:45 to go.
 
Omaha's K.J. Robinson scored seven quick points to put the Mavericks up by three, but the run was halted by an Ancrum finger roll to cut the advantage to one. After two Maverick free throws, Webster answered with a deep straight on 3-pointer.
 
The Mavericks took advantage of a nearly three-minute scoring drought from the Leathernecks to push their lead to 66-59 with 2:35 to play. However, Delo Bruster completed a 4-point play to cut the lead to three. After a Maverick free throw, C.J. Duff grabbed an offensive board and made a 3-pointer from the elbow to pull the Leathernecks to within one. 

With 45 ticks left, Ancrum hit a jumper to put the Leathernecks back up by a point. However, Omaha's Zach Jackson netted a jumper of his own to put the Mavs up 69-68.
 
Omaha made two free throws and extended its lead to three, Webster missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity but a held ball gave Western Illinois possession again. Following a timeout, Duff saw his 26-foot heave fall short as time expired.
 
Western Illinois next travels to Fort Wayne on Feb. 14.
 
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